Gkn Driveline North America, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Brian Michael Valovick

Michael James Miller

Hans Wormsbaecher

James Lyon

Crittenden A Bittick

Richard Alfred Compau

David G Sasseen

Sam Junior D'Angelo

Steven L Leffingwell

Michael Madden

Jake Lawson

Victor Crosby

Ashfaq Saeed

A torsional vibration absorber for a vehicle is provided. The torsional vibration absorber including a front pilot bearing adapted to couple with a vehicle shaft. A spring member is coupled to the front pilot bearing. An inertia ring having an inner surface is operably coupled to the spring member, wherein the front pilot bearing is centrally disposed along the length of the inertia ring. A rear pilot bearing is adapted to couple with the vehicle shaft, the rear pilot bearing having a portion adjacent the inner surface at one end of the inertia ring.

Torsional vibration absorber for a vehicle

An adapter for sealing an outer joint portion of a joint assembly, the adapter includes a main body having an aperture for receiving an outer joint portion, the aperture including an inner sealing surface. The inner sealing surface has a plurality of track portions and a plurality and root portions, where each root portion includes a root midpoint and two track connecting points. The track connecting points connect the root portion to the track portion. The root portion includes a first root radius and an offset root radius, where the first root radius is measured from a first center, and the offset root radius is measured from an offset center. The offset center is located closer to the center axis of the adapter than the first center. Each root portion includes the first root radius at the track connecting point, and gradually transitions to the offset root radius.

Tripod seal feature

A connection system for a grease cover of a constant velocity joint includes a groove portion formed in a generally annular portion of the constant velocity joint. The generally annular portion is defined, at least in part, by an inner surface. The system also includes an insertion tool a grease cover selectively positioned at least partially within the groove portion. The grease cover includes an outer edge portion.

Formed grease cover retention feature

A shaft member includes a plurality of shaft splines and a shaft preloading portion. The assembly also includes a collar member adjustably coupled to the shaftmember and having a collar member groove and a preloading portion formed therein; a first member having a first member groove and a plurality of first member splines formed therein; and a retaining member selectively at least partially interposed within both the collar member groove and the first member groove for restraining axial movement between the shaft member and the collar member. At least a portion of the first member groove and at least a portion of the collar member groove are selectively aligned when the shaft member is at least partially interposed within the first member to permit the retaining member to be at least partially positioned within both the first member groove and the collar member groove.

Constant velocity joint attachment method

A shaft retaining bracket assembly () and a method () of assembling the same is disclosed. A bracket assembly () may include an isolator () that receives a shaft and absorbs vibrations transmitted therethrough, and an integrally formed bracket (). The bracket () may include a base portion () having at least one attachment hole () for securing the bracket () to a structural member, and a hoop () integrally formed with the base portion (). The hoop () receives the isolator () such that the isolator () and the shaft are generally concentric about an axis (A) of the hoop (). The bracket () further includes at least one retention flange () formed in the hoop, the retention flange () being configured to retain the isolator () within the hoop ().

Shaft retaining bracket assembly

A propshaft assembly has an inner tube, an outer tube having an end splined to the inner tube thereby defining an engagement area between the inner tube and the outer tube. The propshaft assembly also includes at least one stiffening ring disposed around the outer tube. At least a portion of the stiffening ring is in contact with the outer tube.

Propshaft assembly with stiffening ring and seal

A constant velocity joint and a boot for a constant velocity joint are disclosed. The boot generally includes a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is in fluid communication with a joint chamber of the constant velocity joint. The first channel is also in communication with the second channel and generally allows airflow therethrough while resisting clogs from lubricant. Additionally, the second channel generally allows airflow therethrough to the atmosphere while resisting passage of foreign contaminants therethrough.

Dual channel vented boot

A propeller shaft assembly comprises a connect shaft portion, a plungable constant velocity joint, and a hollow shaft portion with a cavity. An energy absorbing material is disposed within at least a portion of the cavity. The material absorbs energy when the constant velocity joint plunges into the hollow shaft portion when a predetermined force is exerted upon the constant velocity joint. The energy absorbing material may comprise a foam material, such as, an organic foam, a cellular foam, a synthetic foam, a metal foam, and the like. In addition to absorbing energy, the foam material minimizes the transmission of high frequency vibration of the propeller shaft assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Brian Michael Valovick